Electronic game tables with multifunction legs are described. In one implementation, an electronic multiplayer game table includes a tabletop with player stations for an electronic betting game. Multifunction legs physically support the periphery of the tabletop, while electronic components for playing the betting game are mounted in the multifunction legs. For example, a multifunction leg may contain multiple currency detectors and coinless slot machine-style ticket printers/readers, so that each player at the game table has an exclusive currency detector and an exclusive ticket printer in close proximity. The multifunction legs may also include magnetic or smart card readers for transferring player, banking, and monetary information. In a variation, central control components of the electronic game table are also mounted in the legs. The multifunction legs can eliminate the need for a central support pedestal. This enables efficient under-table cooling schemas and other innovations, such as under-table lighting and a central tabletop holograph space.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electronic multiplayer game table, comprising: a tabletop having four sides, including player stations for multiple players of a multi-player electronic betting game, each of the four sides of the tabletop accommodating at least two seated players of the multiple players; four legs for supporting the tabletop, wherein the legs are attached to the tabletop at each corner of an outside perimeter of the tabletop, wherein two players are adjacent each leg; and wherein at least some of the electronic components for playing the electronic betting game, including processing a player money balance, are mounted in each of the legs; and wherein the electronic components in each leg include at least one currency detector and one ticket printer for each player position adjacent to the leg.
2. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein each leg includes at least one user interface for accessing the electronic components mounted in the leg; and wherein the user interface is mounted within a human reach distance when a player is seated adjacent to the leg.
3. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic components mounted in each leg are communicatively coupled with central control components to form elements of a distributed computing device network.
4. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the central control components are also mounted in at least one of the legs mounted to the tabletop near an outside periphery of the tabletop.
5. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in 1 , wherein the electronic components in each leg include at least one currency detector and one ticket printer for each player position adjacent to the leg.
6. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in 1 , wherein the collective electronic components mounted in all of the legs include at least an exclusive currency detector and an exclusive ticket printer for each player position at the electronic multiplayer game table.
7. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic multiplayer game table includes: n legs; 2(n) player stations; two currency detectors and two ticket printers mounted in each leg; and wherein each player station has an associated exclusive currency detector and an associated exclusive ticket printer in a leg adjacent to the player station.
8. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 7 , wherein N equals one of 3, 4, 5, or 6.
9. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein each leg includes one of a power supply, a cooling fan, a card reader, a smart card reader, or a player-identity-card reader.
10. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein the legs support the tabletop; and wherein a central housing for containing control components is suspended from a center part of the tabletop or from a tabletop support member, leaving an open space between the bottom of the central housing and a floor level at the bottom of the legs.
11. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 10 , wherein a bottom surface of the central housing includes an opening for air to cool the control components.
12. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 11 , wherein air is drawn into the central housing by one of an electric cooling fan or by a thermal siphon of heated air rising from the control components.
13. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 10 , wherein an underside light is mounted on at least one of the underside of the tabletop and/or on the bottom surface of the central housing, in order to light an entire floor or ground area under the electronic multiplayer game table.
14. The electronic multiplayer game table as recited in claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the central control components are mounted in the legs; and a central area of the tabletop comprises a holographic projection space.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 17, 2008
April 12, 2011
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